Breakfast is the most delicious meal of the day at this classic Banff eatery
Located in the Banff Ave. stalwart Irwinn’s Mountain Inn, El Toro has become a favourite for locals and visitors alike over the last 45 years. While well known for its tapas and other Spanish-inspired fare, El Toro is also a must-try destination for breakfast.
The selection is as varied as the customers who sit in the sunny dining room. From a light Continental on the way out of town to a hearty start for a day of outdoor adventure, there’s a delicious option for all.
If pancakes are your morning go-to, El Toro’s trio of fruit-flavoured flapjacks are excellent. Choose between blueberry, raspberry and banana chocolate infused in fluffy batter sure to please the sweet tooth in the crowd. For the more European-minded diner, the delicious crepes also come in blueberry and raspberry with vanilla yogurt.
The trio of eggs Benedict are also a popular choice at El Toro with a choice between salmon, back bacon or spinach and feta each topped with a rich and tangy hollandaise. The most popular Benny, though, is the California, which comes with guacamole and zesty tomato and bacon slices for a creamy, zesty, smoky start to the morning.
Of course, El Toro is a Spanish-themed eatery and the desayuno offering does not disappoint. The Spanish omelet is a menu favourite with red peppers, red onions, spinach and goat cheese with three fluffy eggs and your choice of toast. Depending on how you like your tortilla, both the breakfast burrito and breakfast quesadillas are fantastic. We had the quesadilla and the crispy flour tortilla filled with eggs, peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach and two types of cheese did not disappoint. It had us wondering why quesadillas don’t always come with eggs!
Can’t make up your mind? No problem! The combo meal comes with a pancake, French toast, scrambled egg, bacon and sausage.
El Toro offers weekly specials like Mexican Mondays and Tapas Tuesdays as well as discounts for seniors and for locals. Live in the Bow Valley? Mention it to your server to get the locals breakfast for just $7.99 all year long. Seniors pay only $6.99.
And, when you’re thinking about dinner, don’t forget the El Toro classic chateaubriand Thursdays featuring soup or salad, a 16 oz AAA tenderloin, vegetables, jus and Berenaise sauce for two at just $74.
